Mass. secretary of state says chief justice wrong

AP , Associated Press

Mar. 1, 20136:26 PM ET

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts secretary of state says he is "calling out" the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for what he calls "deceptive" and "disturbing" remarks about minority voting rates in the state.

Chief Justice John Roberts made the statements as the high court heard arguments over the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Roberts asked Solicitor General Donald Verilli if he knew which state has the worst ratio of white voter turnout to African-American voter turnout. Roberts said it was Massachusetts. Roberts later said Massachusetts also had the greatest disparity in registration.

Secretary of State William Galvin, who oversees elections, on Thursday told The Boston Globe (http://bo.st/WlhTdX ) that Roberts was wrong and called his comments a "cheap shot."

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts secretary of state says he is "calling out" the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for what he calls "deceptive" and "disturbing" remarks about minority voting rates in the state.